House Republicans enter Legislature with a 4-step plan

House Republicans are coming into the 2025 Legislature with a four-step plan, prioritizing the economy, education, public safety and health care.

“New Mexico House Republicans are listening, and we will continue to listen to the people of the state of New Mexico, and what they are telling us is that they’re struggling,” House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong, of Magdalena, said during a Monday press conference.

“They’re struggling with goods and services,” Armstrong added. “They’re struggling with finding health care options. They’re struggling with being afraid to go out at night in the dark, and what they’re going to find and see.”

After a five-hour-long special session on public safety issues last summer with only one non-crime bill passing, Democrats — who hold the majority in both the House and Senate chambers — balked at Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s crime agenda. But Republicans are hopeful that’s changed.

Republican House Whip Alan Martinez of Rio Rancho said he’s happy Democrats “have finally realized that crime is an issue.”

Armstrong added that Democrats are rebranding bills formerly introduced by Republicans.

“That’s OK. We don’t care how it gets passed or who passes it,” she said. “Let’s get what’s right done for the state of New Mexico.”

Specifically, they’re looking to work on bills related to competency laws, juvenile justice, fixing bail reform, dealing with fentanyl on the streets and border security.

At least some of those issues were also cited by House Democrats as among their top session priorities.

Another issue that could garner bipartisan support is creating an outside office to hold the state’s Children, Youth & Families Department accountable.

“There’s no other way to say it, other than our children are dying here in the state of New Mexico,” Armstrong said.

The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act also needs to be repealed and replaced, Armstrong said, which was put in place to help substance-exposed babies. She said Republicans want to see an entity that goes into the home to help the parents and babies.

As for education, the Republican leadership said outcomes haven’t improved, from attendance to staff turnover, despite the state pouring money into schools.

House Republican Caucus Chair Rebecca Dow of Truth or Consequences said parents should have more say in their children’s education; “parents are their child’s best expert.”

Other focuses leadership outlined include eliminating income taxes and reforming gross receipts taxes.

“We need to get rid of barriers,” Dow said. “If you have to have an accountant, a lawyer and a lobbyist, just (to) do business in New Mexico, we’re overregulated.”

Inflation is another struggle affecting New Mexicans, and Dow said New Mexico is in a unique position to drive inflation down by embracing its energy resources, both oil and gas and natural resources.

On health care, Armstrong said New Mexico doesn’t have a doctor problem; it has an insurance problem. She said the state needs to rein in medical malpractice lawsuit damages.

“Until the governor and the Democrats are willing to fix it, we’re in the minority,” she said. “We have pushed these issues for years. ... And it’s only going to get worse until they decide they want to fix it.”

Coming into the 60-day session, which starts in a week, Republicans must work across the aisle with the Democratic majority to get their priorities to land on the governor’s desk.

Armstrong pointed out that leadership in both chambers has changed, and “the people of New Mexico have spoken” for change.

Dow added that although the political makeup of the Roundhouse didn’t change much, voting trends did, pointing to Socorro County flipping red. She said families want “common-sense solutions.”

“I hope that this progressive-left body is paying attention to what the New Mexico voters said,” she said.

There’s also a newly empty Republican seat in the House, as Rep. Jared Hembree of Roswell stepped down over the weekend due to health issues, and the clock is ticking if Republicans want to fill the hole before the start of the session.